Typographical composing machine



1932- w. ACKERMAN 1,891,075

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Filgd Sept. 50, 1950 5 sheets-Sneak 1 IDec. 13, 1932. w. ACKERMAN 1,891,075

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Filed sept. 30, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IZNVENT OR 5/ W/ M ,4m

Dec. 13, 1932. w. ACKERMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Sept.30, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I INVENITOR Patented Dec. 13, 1932 'NtTtfitEWILLIAM ACKERE'IAN, QF TOXVNEBS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNGR T0 MERGENTHALEELINOTYIPE COllLTPANY, A GORE ORATION OF NEW YORK TYPOGRAPHICALC'OEPOSING MACHINE Application filed September 30, 1830. Serial No.485,466.

This invention relates to typographical machines, such as linotypemachines of the general organization represented in Letters Patent ofthe United States to O. Mergenthaler, llo. 36,532, wherein circulatingmatrices are released from a magazine in the order in which theircharacters are to appear in print and then assembled in line, thecomposed line transferred to the face of a slotted mold, the mold filledwith molten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices whichproduce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafterreturned through distributing mechanism to the magazine from which theystarted.

More particularly, it relates to that class of machines capable ofhandling matrix fonts differing as to the size and number of characters,such for instance as the seventy-two or fifty-five character displayfonts and the ordinary ninety character text fonts now in use. Inmachines of this class, the keyboard mechanism includes means wherebythe finger keys may be operatively connected to the magazine in use toeffect the release of corresponding matrices of the contained font,whether the latter be a text font or a display font. This feature isimportant, since the matrices of the display fonts (being much thickerthan those of the text fonts) are differently spaced in the magazinechannels and are usually arranged in a difierent order as to character.A keyboard mechanism of the kind mentioned is fully set forth in theKennedy Patents Nos. 1,397,967 and 1,397,97 l, and my own prior PatentNo. 1,626,773 to which reference may be had if desired.

The present invention contemplates an improved form of keyboardmechanism for accomplishing somewhat the same results. In the embodimentillustrated the keyboard mechanism comprises a series of key-controlledoperating members (in the form of vertically movable slides operated bythe customary power driven cam yokes in response to the actuation of thefinger keys) a corresponding series of escapement actuating inc-ml ers,and two series of intermediate motion transmitting members, togetherwith permanent connections in the form of rocking bails between certainselected motion transmitting members of the two series, whereby theconnected members will be operated in unison. One of the series ofmotion transmitting members (being of the same number) affords a set ofdirect connections between the key-controlled members and thecorresponding escapement actuating mem bers when an ordinary ninetycharacter font is in use, while the other series'of motiontransmittingmembers (being of lesser num ber) affords, through themedium of the rocking bails, a set of indirect connections between thekey-controlled members and the escapement actuating members, when aseventy-two character font is in use. The firstinentioned series ofmotion transmitting members (that of the higher number) is arranged inconstant operative relation to the key controlled members, and means areprovided for establishing an operative relation between the escapementactuating members and .one or the other set of motion transmittingmembers according to the magazine in use. 1

The particular form and arrangement of the parts, as well as their modeof operation, will be best understood from the'detailed description tofollow, although it maybe here pointed out that one of the principaladvantages of the improved arrangement comes from the fact that the twoseries of motion transmitting members are permanently connected by therocking bails in contradistinction to my prior patented arrangement,wherein the bails are required to be ad usted 'into and out ofengagement with the parts with which they cooperate, A further advantageresides in the location of the adjustable connections between thekey-controlled cam yokes and the escapement actuating members, which notonly avoids unnecessary complication in the keyboard mechanism, but inaddition enables the parts to be operated with greater ease andcertainty.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely inpreferred form and by way of example and obviously many changes andvariations may be made therein without departing from its spirit. It

H set for a seventy-two character font;

Fig. at is a front elevation of the keyboard mechanism Fig. 5 is aperspective view of a detached portion of the keyboard devices;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4 and showing how thekeyboard may be connected to an auxiliary magazine; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view, showing the relation between the keyboarddevices and the respective magazines.

In the embodiment illustrated the inven tion has been shown as appliedto a machine of the auxiliary magazine variety, such as the commerciallinotype Model 14, or the commercial linotype Model 26. The matrices Xof the main fonts are stored in two superposed main magazines A and Awhile the matrices Z of the supplementary fonts are stored in one ormore auxiliary magazines B, the latter being arranged at the side of orin tandem with the main magazines. The main magazines are arranged to beraised and lowered in the well known manner by the operation of the handcrank S so as to bring any selected magazine into operative relation tothe assembling and distributing mechanisms, and the same is true of theauxiliary magazines B, when more than one is employed. As the assemblingand dise tributing mechanisms form no part of the present invention,they need not be dealt with further, although it may be understood thatthey should be capable of handling the different matrix fonts employed.

The magazine A is provided with ninety grooved channels spaced apart inthe usual way to adapt them to contain the matrices of an ordinaryninety character or text font, whereas the magazine A is provided withseventy-two grooved channels spaced apart in a different manner (seeFig. 7) to adapt them to contain the matrices of a special seventy-twocharacter or display font, these two standard fonts being merelyselected for purposes of illustration. Parenthetically, it may be statedthat an extra channel may be and ordinarily is added to each magazinefor the accommodation of the usual double 6 attachment. The auxiliarymagazine B is of usual form and requires no special descripeenovs tion,it being understood that it is intended to contain matrices of any kindto supplement those of the main fonts.

Each of the main magazines is provided with a series of matrix releasingescapements a which, when the magazine is brought into operativeposition, are actuated through the medium of pivoted levers E by aseries of vertically movable reeds E, which latter are in turn actuatedthrough the motion transmitting members later to be described from alower series of short vertically movable reeds E These short reeds E areoperated by yokes or levers E arranged in banks and provided with camsor eccentrics E adapted under the influence of trip dogs to cooperatewith underlying power driven rollers in. The trip dogs E, as usual, areactuated by a series of vertical slides E guided in a fixed part of thekeyboard frame and operated by finger keys or key levers E The auxiliarymagazine 13 is likewise provided with a set of matrix releasingescapements but in this instance the actuation of the cscapements iseffected by means of a second series of vertically movable reeds Bhaving their upper ends co-terminus with those of the main reeds E andacting on the escapements through intermediate pivoted levers (notshown) which are duplicates of the levers E. See, however, the KennedyPatent No. 1,561,24et for further detaiis if desired.

Arranged at the rear of the two sets of es capement actuating reeds area series of transverse substantially U-shape rocking bails G adapted toconnect corresponding actuating reeds of the two sets, such that, whenany given one of the main recdsE is raised by the actuation of theassociated finger key, the motion thereof will be transferred throughthe connecting bail G to the corresponding auxiliary reed B 'When thereeds of the two series are thus connected, however, the main reeds Eoccupy the position indicated by the dotted lines in :2. where they areshown as having been swung rearwardly to locate their upper ends in linewith notches or clearance spaces E formed on the lower edges of thepivoted levers E. hen the reeds E occupy their forward position. asshown by the full lines in Fig. 2, they are disconnected from the bailsG, and thus from the reeds B and are positioned solely in operativerelation to the levers E, all as more f described in the Kennedy PatentNo. 1,511.2 above referred to.

Coming now the present invention, the improved keyboard arrangement issuch that the finger keys may be operatively connected to either thedisplay magazine A or the text magazine A so that like matrices of thetwo series. i. e. matrices having like characters, may be released fromtheir respective magazines by the operation of the same finger keys themagazine channels.

notwithstanding their difierent location in This is accomplished by theemployment of two series of motion transmitting members C and D, and asingle series of connecting bails F. There are as many members C in theseries as there are channels in the text'magazine A, namely, ninety, andsimilarly there are as many members D and bails F as there are channelsin the display magazine A namely, seventytwo. The bails F serve toconnect all of the members D of the seventy-two seri s with as manydififerent membersC of the ninety series, the particular members Caffected depending upon the relative location of like matrices in thetwo magazines (see diagram of Fig. 7

As will be noted from Figs. 2 and 3, the two series of motiontransmitting members C and D are arranged one behind the other inparallel relation, being slidably supported in a fixed frame H. However,in order to make room for the bail arms, the members D are staggeredwith reference to the members C so as to stand opposite the spacesbetween the members C; but at their upper ends the members D are turnedinwardly, as at (Z, to lie directly in the planes of the members C so asthus to be able to actuate the same escapement reed E as will presentlybe described.

The bails F, of which there are six tiers, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3,are all enclosed within a fixed box or housing J, being mounted to turnon fixed pivot rods J Each bail presents two arms F and F the shorterarms F being engaged in notches C formed in the rear edges of the motiontransmitting members C of the ninety series, and the longer arms F beingextended forwardly between adjacent members C and engaged in notches Dformed in the rear edges of the motion transmitting members D of theseventy-two series. The various bails thus provide permanent connectionsbetweenthe members D and as many different members C so that theconnected members of the two series are always caused to operate inunison. In this connection it may be noted that the lateral spacing ofthe bail arms F and F varies as between the different bails according tothe relative location of like matrices in the two magazines and asillustrated in the diagram of Fig. 7. In other words. the raising of anyone of the affected members C will effect the raisingof the connectedmember D although the two members will be offset laterally withreference to each other.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the motion transmitting members C arearranged directly above the short reeds or reed sections E and, becauseof their fixed location in the machine, Wlll malntam a constantoperative relation with such key-controlled reed sections; and,

since the members D are permanently connected to the members C bytherocking bails F, the members D will consequently be operated wheneverthe corresponding members C are operated in response to the actuation ofthe finger keys. The upper reeds or reed F;

sections E however, are not so fixed in the machine but are adjustablymounted so that they may be brought into operative relation to eitherseries of motion transmitting members C and D. Thus, in Fig. 2 the reedsE are shown as located above or in engaging relation to the members C;whereas, in Fig.

3 they are shown as located above or in engaging relation to the membersD. In the former position the members C serve to establish a set ofdirect connections between the finger keys and the escapements of thetext magazine A, while in the latter position, the members D serve'toestablish a set of indirect connections between certain selected? mallyfixed so as to serve as a pivotal point, T

while the lower rod M is slidable forwardly and backwardly in guidewaysM of a fixed supporting frame 0. The rod M is connected by short links Mto apair of small bell-crank levers M fixed to a transverse rock shaft Mjournaled in the frame O and one of the bell-crank levers (that at theright in Figs. 2 and at) is connected by a long link M to the rear endof a hand lever M pivoted to the side of the keyboard frame. Thearrangement of the parts is such that, when the hand lever M isdepressed, it will shift the rod M rearwardly and locate the reeds Eabove the motion transmitting members C to accord with the selection ofthe tent magazine A; and, when the hand lever is lifted, it will shiftthe rod M forwardly and locate the reeds E above thc motion transmittingmembers D to accord with the selection of the display magazine A Thekeyboard connections for effecting the release of the display matricesin the magazine A are clearly shown by the diagram of Fig. 7, whereinthe letters at the top indicate the location of the matrices in themagazine; while the letters at the bottom indicate the finger key layoutor the location of the upper reed sections E controlled by the fingerkeys. From this diagram it will be easy to trace the connections fromany finger key to the corresponding escapement of one or the other ofthe two magazines. In particular, the diagram will indicate clearly theform or extent of the different bails employed in connecting thecorresponding motion transmitting members C and D of the two series. Itis pointed out that the magazine A has a group of five channels locatedat the extreme right beyond the last channel. of the magazine A, thesechannels containing the matrices bearing the character Z and the hyphen,quotation, apostrophe, and dollar marks. To provide for the actuation ofthe escapements of these oiiset channels, five more escapement levers Eare added to the series as well as live additional reeds or reedsections E these particular reed sections being operated by theappropriate motion transmitting members D from the corresponding membersC through the five longest bails shown in the diagram. Except for thesefive additional levers E and reeds E the bails F operate upon one oranother of the regular series of levers E and reeds E employed inreleasing the matrices from the main magazine A.

It remains to be described how the same keyboard may be adapted to rlease matrices from the auxiliary magazine B. By referring again to Fi 2and 3 it will be observed that the upper supporting rod M for the reedsE is carried by a frame N slidable forwardly and backwardly in the fixedframe 0 by a hand grip N According to this arrangement, when the grip Nis pulled forwardly, as shown by the full lines in Fig. 2, the reeds Estand in operative relation to the levers E but clear of the bails G,leading to the auxiliary reeds B whereas, when the hand grip is pushedrearwardly, as indicated by the dotted lines in said figure, the reedsIE will stand clear of the levers E but be brought into engagingrelation to the bails G, it being noted that in either of their adjustedpositions the reeds E maintain their operative connection with themotion transmitting members C. In this connection it may be stated that,before adjusting the reels E in the manner just described, the handlever M should first be depressed to position them in operative relationto the members C so that the latter may be used in operating the bailsrat-her than the members D, although of course the arrangementcould beotherwise, if desired. Since there are only thirty-tour channels in theauxiliary magazine, it obviously is not necessary that the whole seriesof reeds E be adjusted into and out of e11- gaa'ement with the bails G;and in such case the rod M may be formed in two sections, one located inthe fixed frame 0 and the other located in the adjustable frame N (seeFig. 6).

As previously stated, the invention has been shown herein only inpreferred form and by way of example and as applied to amachine of theclass mentioned and obviously many n'iodil'ications and alterationstherein and in their mode of application will readily suggest themselvesto those skilled in the art without departing from its scope. It shouldtherefore be understood that the invention is not limited to anyspecific construction or arrangement of the parts except in so far assuch limitations are specified in the claims. Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is:

1. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical composing machines, thecombination of a key-controlled operating member,

two actuating members, two permanently connected motion transmittingmembers arranged therebetween, one of said members being arranged inconstant operative relation to the key-controlled operating member, andmeans for establishing an operative relation between either of saidmotion transmitting members and the corresponding actuating member.

2. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical composing machines, thecombination of key-controlled operatingmember, two actuating members,two motion transmitting members arranged therebetween, a rocking bail towhich the latter members are permanently connected and whereby both areoperated in unison, one of said motion transmitting members beingarranged in constant operative relation to the key-controlled operatingmember, and means for establishing an operative relation between eitherof said motion transmitting members and the corresponding actuatingmember.

3. In a keyboard mechansm for typographical composing machines, thecombination of a key-controlled operating member, two actuating members,two motion transmitting members arranged therebetween, a rocking bail towhich the latter members are permanently connected and whereby both areoperated in unison, one of said motion transmitting members beingarrangeu in constant operative relation to the key-controlled operatingmember, and means for adjusting the actuating members to locate eitherone in and the other out of operative relation to its correspondingmotion transmitting member.

4. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical composing machines, thecombination 01 a series of key-controlled operating members, a series ofactuating members, two series of intermediate motion transmittingmembers, permanent connections between certain selected motiontransmitting members of the two series whereby the connected memberswill be operated in unison, one of the series of motion. transmittingmembers being arranged in constant operative relation to thekey-controlled operatingmembers, and means for establishing an operativerelation between either series of motion transmi ting members and theactuatin: members.

5. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical composing machines. thecombination of a series of key-controlled operating members, a series ofactuating members, two

series of intermediate motion transmitting members, permanentconnections between certain selected motion transmitting members of thetwo series whereby the connected members will be operated in unison, oneof the series of motion transmitting members being arranged in constantoperative relation to the key-controlled operating mem bers, and meansfor adjusting the actuating members to locate them in operative relationto either series of motion transmitting members and out of directoperative relation to the other.

6. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical composing machines, thecombination of a series of key-controlled operating members, series ofactuating members, two series of intermediate motion transmittingmembers, rocking bails connecting certain selected motion transmittingmembers of the two series whereby the connected members w'llbe opera edin unison, one of the series of motion transmitting members beingarranged in constant operative relation to the hey-controlled operatingmembers, and means for establishing an operative relation between eitherseries of motion transmitting members and the actuating members.

In a keyboard mechanism for typographical composing machines, thecombination of a series of key-controlled operating members, a series oiactuating members, two series of bail-connected motion transmittingmembers arranged therebetween, one of said series being arranged inconstant operative relation to the key-controlled operating .merabers,and means for adjusting the actuating members to locate them inoperative relation to either series of motion transmitting members andout of direct operative relation to the other.

8. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical composing machines. thecombination of a series of key-controlled operating members, a series ofactuating members, two series of intermediate motion transmittingmembers arranged one behind the other, pernanent connections between themotion transmitting members of one series and as many differentlaterally offset members of the other series, one of the series ofmotion transmitting members being arranged in con stant operativerelation to the key-controlled operating members, and means forestablishing an operative relation between either se ries of motiontransmi ting members and the actuating members.

9. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical composing machines, thecombination of a series of key-controlled operating members, a series ofactuating members, two series of intermediate motion transmittingmembers arranged one behind the other, the members of one seriescorresponding in num ber with the key-controlled operating members, andthose of the other series being of less number, permanent connectionsbetween the motion transmitting members of the latter series and certainselected laterally ofi'sct members of the former series whereby theconnected members will be operated in unison, the higher numbered ser'esof motion transmitting members being arranged in constant operativerelation to the hey-controlled operating members, and means forestablishing an operative relation between eitlierseries of motiontransmitting members and the actuating members.

10. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical. composing machines, thecombination of a series of key-controlled operating members, a series ofactuating members, two series of intermediate motion transmittingmembers arranged one behind the other in staggered relation but with theupper ends of adjacent members located in the same vertical plane,rocking bails connecting the motion transmitting members of the frontseries with certain selected laterally offset members of the rearseries, said bails each presenting ashort arm engaged with the rear edgeof the associated member of the rear series, and a long a in extendedforwardly between adjacent members of the rear series and engaged withthe rear edge of the corresponding member of the front series, the rearseries of motion transmitting members being arranged in constantoperative relation to the key-controlled operating members, and meansfor adjusting the actuating members to locate them in. operativerelation to either series of motion transmitting members and out ofdirect operative relation to the other.

11. A combination as in claim 4, characterized by the fact that thekey-controlled operating members therein referred to are operated bypower mechanism under control of the finger keys.

12. A combination as in claim 5, characterized by the fact that theactuating members therein referred toare also adjustable into and out ofengaging relation to one or another set of escapement actuating deviceswhile maintaining their engagement with the motion transmitting members.

13. In a typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped withinterchangeable magazines containing matrices occupying difierentlylocated channels according to character, the combination of a series ofkeycontrolled operating members, a series of escapement actuatingmembers, two series of intermediate motion transmitting members,permanent connections between certain selected transmitting members ofthe two series whereby the connected members will be operated in unison,one of the series of motion transmitting members being arranged inconstant operative relation to the key-controlled operating membersandaffording a set of dircct connections between said key-controlledmembers and the escapement actuating members, and the other series ofmotion transmitting members affording a set of indirect connectionsbetween the key-controlled operating members and the escapementactuating members, and means for establishing an operative relationbetween the escapement actuating members and one or the other series ofmotion transmitting members according to the magazine in use.

14. A combination as shown in claim 13, characterized by the fact thatthe permanent connections between the motion transmitting members of thetwo series are in the form of rocking bails.

15. A combination according to claim 13 wherein the magazines containdifferent numbers of matrix columns and characterized by the fact thatthe number of motion transmitting members in the two series is made tocorrespond to the number of matrix columns in the different magazines.

16. A combination as in claim 13, characterized by the fact that thepermanently connected motion transmitting members of the two series arelocated in laterally offset relation to accord with the differentlocation of the matrix columns in the magazine.

17. A combination as in claim 13, characterized by the fact that thekey-controlled operating members therein referred to are in the form of'short reed sections operated by power under control of the finger keys,and

that the two series of motion transmitting members are arranged abovesaid reed sections so as likewise to be operated by power.

18. A combination as in claim 13, characterized by the fact that theescapement actuating members are in the form of two sections arranged tobe adjusted into and out of operative relation to each other for thepurpose described.

19. A combination as in claim 13, characterized by the fact that theselection of one or the other series of motion transmitting members iseffected by means of a hand lever arranged alongside of the keyboard.

20. In a typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped withinterchangeable main magazines containing matrices occupying differentlylocated channels according to character, as well as with an auxiliarymagazine located at the side of the main magazines, the combination ofa. series of escapement actuating members for the main magazines, aseries of escapement actuating men'ibers for the auxiliary magazine, aseries or key-controlled operating members arranged below the escapementactuating members for the main magazines, two series of intermediatemotion transmitting members arranged above the key-controlled operatingmembers, permanent connections between certain selected motiontransmitting members of the two series whereby the con-' nected memberswill be operated in unison, one of the series of motion transmittingmemhere being arranged in constant operative relation to thekey-controlled operating members and affording a set of directconnections between said key-controlled members and the escapementactuating members for tie main magazines, and the other series of motiontransmitting members affording a set of indirect connections between thekey-controlled operating members and said escapement actuating members,means for establishing an operative relation between the escapementactuating members and one or the other series of motion transmittingmembers accordin to the main magazine in use, means for adjusting theescapement actuating members into or out of operative relation to theescapements of the main magazines while maintaining their connectionwith the motion transmitting members, and connections between theescapement actuating members of tne main magazines and those of theauxiliary magazine, said connections being adapted to be made and brokenas the actuating members for the main magazines are adjusted out of andinto operative relation to the escapements of said magazines.

In testimony whereof, this specification has been duly signed by:

WVILLIAM AGKERMAN.

